Dallas Wings trade Odyssey Sims to L.A. for 4th pick in WNBA Draft

Dallas Wings guard Odyssey Sims, right, was dealt to the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday in exchange for the fourth overall draft pick in April.
Brad Loper
Special to the Star-Telegram

The Dallas Wings traded point guard Odyssey Sims, the former Baylor All-American, to the WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks on Friday for the fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft.

The Wings also received the 23rd overall selection while Los Angeles received the 11th overall pick.

Sims averaged 14 points and 3.9 assists in 34 games for the Wings last season, their first in North Texas after moving from Tulsa, Okla. She appeared in a total of 91 games for the organization during her three-year WNBA career.

“We have felt strongly we needed to change the dynamic with our roster heading into the 2017 season,” said Wings general manager Greg Bibb in a statement. “This deal provides us with the opportunity to add another high pick in what we consider a strong draft class, particularly at the top of the draft board.”

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The Wings now own the 3rd, 4th, 10th, 23rd and 26th picks in the April 13 draft. Among the top players expected to be available are Tennessee guard Diamond DeShields, Washington guard Kelsey Plum and South Carolina center Alaina Coates, along with Baylor standouts Alexis Jones and Nina Davis.

“Odyssey is a talented player whose contributions to the organization are greatly appreciated; however, you must deliver value to receive value in return,” Bibb said. “After evaluating numerous scenarios, this deal gives us the best opportunity to achieve our goals for the upcoming season, which include a return to the playoffs and the chance to compete for a WNBA championship.”

The Wings’ draft class will join a core of young players that includes Skylar Diggins, Karima Christmas, Glory Johnson and Aerial Powers.

Training camp for the Wings begins April 23 in Arlington. The Wings open the 2017 season at Phoenix on May 14, followed by their home opener May 20 against Minnesota at UT-Arlington’s College Park Center.